Current News

Novices received in the Philippines

International Marist Family Midlife Renewal Programme

Australian Schools support Papua New Guinea

Congregational Leader on Visitation in New Zealand

Director of JMC Centre in Asia Pacific

Missioning in Australia

First Profession in the Philippines

Fijian Sister Missioned to the Philippines

Papua New Guinea Mission One Year On

Novices Received in The Philippines

On Sunday 9th May Birisita Bibi and Valeria Ho from Fiji and Yvonne Amaliri from Nigeria were received into the Marist Sisters Novitiate in the Philippines. During the ceremony Birisita, Valerie and Yvonne sang in harmony the Responsorial Psalm, The Lord is My Shepherd. In their own words they each requested reception into the novitiate. Sr Julie Brand, Regional Leader of Asia Pacific, received them as novices in the Congregation of Mary.

The new novices were delighted to receive so many greetings from sisters throughout the congregation and to have the sisters from the Philippines present at the reception ceremony. They now join with two other novices, Cathy and Celina both from PNG, in the next stage of formation as Marist Sisters.

International Marist Family Midlife Renewal Programme

The International Marist Family Midlife Renewal Programme was officially opened on 2nd March with a prayerful Eucharistic celebration. Each participant from the four Marist branches was named and welcomed by their respective Superior General or Representative. Included in the group of nineteen particpants are three Marist Sisters from Fiji - Sr.Salome Dilagi, Sr.Mariana Maramaanicava and Sr.Mareta Nai Raikivi.

The programme is led by a team from the 4 branches of the Marist Family. Br. Barry Burns FMS (New Zealand), Fr. David Kennerley SM (New Zealand), Sr. Marie  Challacombe SM (NZ/France) and Sr. Janice Ruff SMSM (Australia), and will run for 5 months.

The programme aims to support the participants in their mid-life journey of Christ-centred transformation for mission by:

• creating a welcoming and dynamic community where differences of charism, culture, gender and nationality may be honoured and explored,
• offering reflective, prayerful and creative processes along with new learnings which will enable participants to listen to, and share with others, their own inner resources of wisdom and truth, and to face their human, spiritual and vocational questions in liberating ways,
• exploring the depths and potential in the respective Marist spiritualities for building the Marian dimension of Church in our contemporary world,
• helping each individual to realise their own potential in being an effective agent for change in their communities, ministries and Congregations.

And, finally, the hope is that all will return home in such a way that the fruit of the program will endure in their lives as committed Marist apostles.

Australian Schools support Papua New Guinea

We have had a delivery of boxes and boxes of books from both Marist Sisters' College Woolwich and Cerdon College Merrylands for our schools. It has been a delight to see the faces of the children and teachers as they open the boxes and see so many beautiful books, from picture books and novels to a great selection of Reference books and Encyclopedias. This is a wonderful donation that is greatly appreciated.

The teacher Librarian and myself have been going through the books to organise them into categories for distribution within the schools here in the parish. These books will not only serve the schools but will also be a great help to the young people who are beginning to finish their schooling through Distant Education. We are in the process of setting up a Distant Education Correspondence Centre to enable young people, and the not so young, to finish their schooling. We are still at the initial stages but there has been a good response to our second pre-entry test.

Congregational Leader on Visitation in New Zealand

On Friday 5th February Marist College Mt Albert, Auckland held its Inaugural Mass for 2010 at St Patrick’s Cathedral. After the Mass Sr. Jane Frances, Superior General, currently on visitation in New Zealand blessed and opened the Chavoin Suite for Religious Education and the Mother Bernard Archives. 

Mother Bernard was one of the two pioneer sisters in New Zealand and was the first principal and driving force behind the development of the College.  The preparation of the archival space has taken a year.  Displays of artifacts and photos were prepared for the occasion.

In her address, Sr. Jane highlighted Mother Bernard’s zealous work for catholic education and highlighted the role of archives in creating “an interest in our past, a past that is both a human and religious place from where we can look towards our future.”  She urged staff to make community the heart of catholic education “as a reality to be lived”. Students were reminded that their commitment is to the future, and that they “are bearing Mary’s name and will soon learn how to live her spirit.”

Director of JMC Centre in Asia Pacific

Sr Teri O'Brien, director of the Jeanne-Marie Chavoin centre in Belley, France, recently spent time in New Zealand and Australia. Arriving in New Zealand on January 9th, that same day she travelled with Lorraine to Totara Point for the special Mass commemorating the arrival there of Bishop Pompallier.  While in the North they visited Motuti where the Bishop’s remains are enshrined. Teri’s busy schedule included being present at the Marist Youth Leaders’ meeting in Christchurch and giving presentations in schools of the New Zealand Network of Marist Schools,  which have benefited from her insights into our Marist heritage.  

During her week in Sydney, Teri met with nearly all the Sisters in Sydney. There were gatherings at Marian House and at Marrickville. A picnic originally planned for the Blue Mountains eventually took place at Sefton due to inclement weather. In each case there was a lovely sharing of stories and an exchange of ministerial experiences.  At Marist Sisters’ College Woolwich Teri addressed the School Assembly and enjoyed an informal lunch with the Staff. She spoke to the Cerdon College School Community at the beginning of their Opening Mass for the School Year and afterwards renewed acquaintances with the girls who participated in the 2008 Cerdon-to-Cerdon Pilgrimage. She also met those who are about to undertake the pilgrimage this year. Other significant Marist outings were to the parishes of Hunters Hill and St Patrick’s Church Hill. Teri completed her Australian experience with a visit to the museum of Blessed Mary MacKillop

Missioning in Australia

On 6th February the Sisters of the Sydney communities gathered at Marian House.  After a beautiful prayer Gail farewelled and missioned Grace, who soon will take up her ministry as Novitiate Formator in the Philippines. 

Then Vivienne, who has recently been appointed Sector Assistant, was also missioned. 

Kate was present before returning to our new mission in Papua New Guinea.  Therefore it was an appropriate occasion to acknowledge her Silver Jubilee and present her with the customary Papal Blessing. A delicious afternoon tea was provided and this gave all present the opportunity to farewell Grace and Kate and congratulate Vivienne in a joyful Marist celebration.

First Profession in the Philippines

There was great excitement in the Philippines on 2nd February as two Fijian novices made their First Profession as Marist Sisters. It was truly a beautiful ceremony. Srs Stephanie and Titilia were so purposeful and happy in offering themselves. The singing was led by our own Sisters while three Marist Fathers students played the instruments. Fr. Alik smi was the presider. Fr. Larry sm sang the Gospel (Annunciation) and delivered a powerful homily. The theme chosen by the newly professed conveyed clearly where the hearts of Titi and Steph were. This was illustrated in a poster on the wall - "Not my will but thine be done" beside the picture of Jesus, "Let it be done unto me according to your word" beside the picture of Mary, a picture of their own hands was in between. Sr Stephanie's mother, aunt and family friend had travelled from Fiji for the ceremony. Back in Taveuni, Fiji Sr Titilia's family celebrated mass at the same time as the profession ceremony was taking place in the Philippines. Click here to see more photos.

Fijian Sister Missioned to the Philippines

The sisters in Fiji recently gather to mission Sr Teresia to her new appointment as Assistant Novice Mistress in Davao, The Philippines. Teresia left HEr beloved Fiji on Monday 18th January. She is currently spending time adjusting to her new environment and attending a course on Filipino language and culture.

Two young Fijian women travelled with Sr Teresia to The Philippines. Valerie Ho and Birisita Bibi are continuing their period of Candidacy in The Philippines in preparation for theri Novitiate period

Papua New Guinea Mission One Year On

The Marist Sisters arrived gradually through the months of February and March 2008.  By the end of March we were a community of three, Sr Lavina Henry from Fiji, Sr Kathleen Bright from New Zealand and Sr Kate McPhee from Australia.  For each of us our first introduction to life here in PNG was through our Marist Confreres either in Bomana or in our own Parish of Kanosia.

The months have been rich with life and activities and there has been a lot to take in.  Our encounter with the Kanosia Parish and its diversity from the Wama station with its many cultures to each of the Villages within the Parish continues to be an enriching experience.

We have been introduced to many festive occasions where Traditional dancing has been a significant part.  From the blessing of our house, to Diocesan festivals, back to the opening of 3 School houses, to our own Marist Feast on the 12th September, the Parish feast of St Vincent de Paul and then Advent and Christmas celebrations it has all been a wealth of culture and diversity.

We are getting use to the fact that this is truly the ‘Land of the Unexpected’ with each day bringing its differences and sometimes many challenges.  One learns a lot about ‘Waiting’ especially when it comes to Banks and business-like dealings as well as meetings within the Village.  But even this is overtaken by the natural beauty of this country and of its people.  God is certainly alive and active in this place, enriching both it and us with life and love.

Currently there are two young women from Papua New Guinea in the Marist Sisters' Novitiate in Davao, the Philippines. During their novitiate period Catherine and Celina are undertaking studies in spiritual, theological and Marist formation while reflecting more deeply on their call to be Marist Sisters.